When to use an Anybus Communicator or an Anybus CompactCom

ANSWER

Deciding if a Communicator or CompactCom is the best fit for adding to an industrial network such as Ethernet/IP or Profinet depends on the system you are integrating it into.  

A communicator is designed to add an additional Industrial network interface to a device with an existing one.  This allows for retrofitting a device with one network interface with another. This allows systems with two industrial networks to share data.  

Serial Communicator:

A serial communicator interfaces with a serial device over a custom serial or ASCII protocol, as well as Modbus RTU. Depending on the version of Communicator it provides a server interface for an industrial controller to establish a connect to. The Anybus Serial Communicator is available with various network interfaces such as Ethernet/IP, Profinet, EtherCAT,  Modbus TCP, and Profibus and a Common Ethernet. The Common Ethernet allows for the network type to be set to any of the Ethernet based Network interfaces with a simple firmware update. 

Ethernet to Ethernet Communicators:

Ethernet to Ethernet Communicators server a similar purpose but between two different Ethernet based Industrial Network types rather than serial. They would be used when a PLC with one network type exists on the network.  They allow a system with one Industrial protocol to be accessed by another. Ethernet to Ethernet Communicators offers the same networking interfaces as the serial version, with network interfaces for Ethernet/IP, Profinet, EtherCAT, Modbus TCP, and Profibus. For instance, the ABC4013 is a Profinet IO device – Ethernet/IP Adapter, enabling data exchange between an Ethernet/IP scanner and a Profinet controller. 

CompactCom:

A CompactCom is Ideal for adding an industrial network interface directly to a device.  It interfaces with a host microcontroller that runs the CompactCom driver to establish a connection though SPI, serial, or parallel interfaces. The driver, a C-based application, handles setup and communicating with the CompactCom. To gain a better understanding of the Capabilities of the CompactCom check out the HMS academy course.  https://elearning.hms-networks.com/course/what-is-anybus-compactcom-bu

Deciding if you should use a Communicator or CompactCom depends on the system requirements.  A Communicator allows retrofitting devices or machines with an alternative network interface, while a CommpactCom directly adds and industrial network interface to a device.